The State Veterans Home in Kinston admitted its first resident on March 27.

Since then, three more veterans have moved into the $13 million, 100-bed facility.

The Secretary of Administration, Bill Daughtridge, and a couple of his administration members visited the home at 1250 Hull Road Thursday to officially welcome the veterans to their new abode.

“On behalf of Gov. McCrory and myself, I would like to welcome … our new residents – our new veterans – into this brand new home,” Daughtridge said during a press conference in the 111,000 square-foot building’s lobby. “What a great facility it is.”

He said he took a light tour before the addressing the veterans and was highly impressed.

“This has nothing to do with politics,” said Daughtridge, noting the veteran’s home is state and government-funded. “It’s about making veterans be in a place where they can feel at home, feel good and have great service and great care at the same time.”

Dean Smith, State Veterans Home administrator, said they are expected to fill about eight slots a year and will hire as those spaces are occupied. When ground broke in 2007, up to 175 jobs were to be created. Thirty full-time staff workers are employed now.

There are 800,000 veterans in North Carolina and the State Veterans Home in Kinston is the only one east of the I-95. There are currently three other similar facilities operating in North Carolina.